Paul Scholes has made a fresh claim involving Phil Foden in an England shirt.
Recently, Sam Allardyce claimed that Foden is at his best from central areas of the pitch rather than from the left-wing — where he has been deployed against Serbia and Denmark.
Gabby Agbonlahor also feels that the 24-year-old has been “fitted in” as a left-winger by Gareth Southgate due to the extraordinary campaign he had for Manchester City — when he should be operating as an attacking midfielder.
A report has stated that the silky technician is expected to start against Slovenia, with only Conor Gallagher set to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold; implying that the silky midfielder will continue to play as a winger.
Paul Scholes has his own spin on Phil Foden position debate
However, Paul Scholes does not agree with the claims about Foden being out of position when asked to play on the left-wing for England at the European Championship so far.
Scholes told TNT Sports: “I don’t really see him as playing out of position, I think he can play on the left-hand side, he’s done that for Manchester City loads of times.”
Paul Scholes also feels a player like Foden will thrive if England gain more control of the game in the middle of the park.
“It’s just having control of the ball in the middle of the pitch. If you don’t have control of the ball in the middle of the pitch, then you can’t go on wandering inside, you can’t come into them positions where he is most dangerous.”
The Manchester United legend concluded: “I’m sure that’s what the plan is, to get Declan Rice, to get Trent [Alexander-Arnold], to get them in real control of the game and then you can virtually do what you want then going forward and Phil Foden can pop up anywhere he wants on a football pitch and he’ll be a threat.”
The Phil Foden position debate is an interesting one
As Paul Scholes stated, Foden has played as a left-winger for Manchester City on several occasions.
But City’s number 47 has not always looked at his best playing in the position.
During the 2020/2021 season, the Englishman was brilliant in the role but he was also given much more of a license to drift inside.
Additionally, Ilkay Gundogan’s astute runs as a left-sided midfielder meant they formed a dangerous partnership down that flank.
Since that season, Foden has very rarely looked at his best in that role.
In fairness, Gareth Southgate has given the 24-year-old the option of roaming into central areas but as Wayne Rooney stated, both him and Jude Bellingham often occupy the same zones on the pitch.
Whether that has occurred due to a lack of necessary coaching that stems from Southgate is a mystery.
But considering Foden has been the best player in the Premier League from central areas, surely Scholes understands that he should be given the freedom to take up different areas of the pitch like at Manchester City.
In an England shirt, that does not seem to be the case, which could have been a contributing factor to the Stockport-born midfielder’s divisive showings at Euro 2024; with things not working out for the Three Lions in attack, perhaps it is time for Southgate to let Foden play in his natural position.